New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-18
NIBLOS GARDEy-"LAGARDERE."

II seams almost a madness 10 open theatre In New.
York in the tropical weather that now prevails The
congregation OF many persons In hot place cannot DO
wholesome to Themselves Indeed the dread OF precisely
that experience is thought 10 have affected these many
years tho drift OF theological opinion throughout the
world Enjoyment OF a play when one must sit and
sweler for three hours In order TO see II would
appear TO be possible only saamandcr Yet long be-
fore the doors OF Nbos Theatre opened last night
there was dense wd in the lobby Of It, and within
half an after those doors were opened the house
was packed in every part; and this great multitude
mostly males remained there, simrnering. gasping and
appauding Kray Ballet interpreted with flag ends
and odd fragments OF an old melodrama, until midnight
In this way regular dramatic season was opened at
this popular theatre, and ttc curtain lifted upon new
theatrical year.
The occasion is worthy OF record 1t is not worthy
of serious consideration for bearing that has upon
the culture refined pleasure of the public or the well
faro OF dramatic art in this community. The Kiralfy
Brothers dancers and the trainers and managers or
dancers any other capacity they are persons OF
no importance and persons OF whom our people have had
far more than liberal and necessary allowance. No
person outside OF lunauc asylum would or could sup
pose that proceedings promoted by them last night In
Nblos Theatre anything TO do with the art OF act
ing Many players To be app cared upon the stage
and being there did vast deal OF yociferaon aud pos
ture together with considerable grimace and cownish
anc and remote sense II was understood that
drama which for twentyfour years has been known to
our stage as Tho Dukes Motto" But the piece was so
di,,onted by inappropriate balledancng-nowi IN the
woods and now In the palace-and 80 oiouoeo WI, Win
rambling and inaudble or indstinct autoDlog
raphy that unless previously acquainted with It's SUB,
stance structure no human being could comprehend
its story or It's meaning
This Old version of the Porte St. Martin play made by
John Brougham for Charles Fee1ter brought out at me
Iondon Lyceum In January, 1863 and first presented
here at Nbos by william Wheatley In juno OF the same
~ utterly Incredible in story az least coherent
he trust
we'll acted. But when the gallant and picturesque
uarV $50 when the brilliant Fechter played the part in
this same theatre the emphasis was placed upon me
acting and effort successfully made to give the,
atrgal expression fanciful romantic highly spced
drama of situation. This was true. likewise, when 50
late the fall OF 1850 the sonorous ana flexible style OF
the late william f. Sheridan found utterance IN the
part OF La0adere upon this same stage But Ine hra
brothers have simply Jumbed the incidents an Iogother
and tangled up the threads OF the story Win wilderness
OF female legs and the spectator Soes Of
things but nothing distinctly and prodlgousy active
wave the white arm and point the plant toe are de-
lcons creatures doubt but they are OUT or place IN
SsA Msar Ss Always ct"
rescue actor and always earnest dashed through L9'
sm Kat doubtess must be ascrbed the dreadful heat.
the incidental trepdaon and the hopeless snrroundngJ
Of foes and only left regret that 1t had not also
Killed the piece Nobody else made the least Impression
Cocarddsse The women In this play amount to nothing
At its best 1t Is play OF situation: ~, ,norw,,,
canar far in excess Of everything else Some OF the
scenery exhibited is nS in color and pioiSS to-
not habltuay remain in the tops of trees,
even TO accommodate the artistic taste OF the Kiralfy
Brothers There is a good ballet That Is TO say, the
faces are not altogether venerable usual and the
ngures often good But the dances lacked national
character and the principal female performer In them
was more notable for muscular force than either grace or
beauty Tho best effects were gained by massng the
dancing girls in columns and causing them advance
like the waves of the An effort made to Illus
trate ages speech In series OF dane
gamboge black dresses killed all the hues with which
they were associated. new drop curtain. by MI
Maeder was displayed-nlustrative OF passage in The
Tempest" The foliage and ROOFS are good, but tho
figures wretched whether as types OF Shakospearos
people or as anatomy and color. There was great APP
pase the ballet and far as the show had any sue
cess at all Its success was In that element